Located on the southern edge of the vast central Idaho wilderness, Blaine County encompasses 2,655 square miles and supports a current population of approximately 20,000. The majority of the county’s residents live in the Big Wood River Valley communities of Hailey, Bellevue, Ketchum, and Sun Valley. Of the nearly 1.7 million acres that comprise the county, 77 percent of the landmass is state or federally owned, assuring ample open space and public lands recreational opportunities. The community of Carey, with a population of approximately 600, is the agricultural base for eastern Blaine County and home to numerous multi-generational farms and ranches.

With the Bar B Ranch, one is able to take advantage of the amenities and activities typically found in a first class resort community while also enjoying the low-key lifestyle afforded by rural living. As part of the larger Sun Valley community, an owner has access to one of the nation’s most prestigious year-round resort areas. Top-rated golf courses and tennis facilities, fine dining and cultural opportunities, mountain-biking and hiking trails, and world-class downhill and cross-country skiing are all available within an hour of the property. At the same time, the Bar B Ranch is situated next to the Little Wood River Valley, a section of Blaine County which offers a rural, uncluttered setting with high quality fish and wildlife resources only minutes away from Sun Valley’s more populated communities. Among other features, this part of the county is famous for its mountain vistas, abundant wildlife, trout fishing and working ranchlands. With the Bar B Ranch, an owner truly enjoys the best of everything the area has to offer.

Climate

The climate for the area is best described as semi-arid with an average humidity of only 30% and annual precipitation of 14 inches per year. Summers are warm with the temperatures occasionally reaching into the low 90’s and cooling to the mid-40’s at night. Winters are generally cold, with an average maximum temperature from November through February of 35° and an average minimum temperature during the same period of 13°.

General Description

The ranch is bordered by larger rural properties, working ranchlands, and BLM and State lands. Elevation of the ranch runs from approximately 5,000 feet along the Little Wood Reservoir Road to 6,500 feet at the property’s highest point.

Beautiful building sites are found on this parcel, which is perched above the river with 360° views of the surrounding Pioneer Mountains and foothills.

An improved dirt road links the main county road with the balance of the ranch and proceeds up and over various ridgelines and seasonal drainages before ending at the ranch’s southerly-most parcel. This jeep trail provides access to the higher portions of the ranch as well as the BLM and State lands lying within the property.

Improvements

General Operations

The Bar B Ranch, in conjunction with the contiguous BLM and State lands, has been operated for many years as part of a larger family ranching operation based in the Little Wood River Valley. For agricultural purposes, the property is best suited for seasonal livestock grazing, which could be accomplished by leasing grazing privileges to a local rancher. This type of arrangement would minimize overhead for a new owner while allowing for use and control of the available forage on the ranch.

Water Resources

Acreage Breakdown

The deeded portion of the ranch consists of 1,250 acres, more or less, per the Blaine County Assessor.

Broker Comments

Larger properties in eastern Blaine County, particularly those with high quality scenic and recreation values, have remained in strong ownership and rarely change hands. In addition to preserving open space and agricultural resources, this land tenure situation has helped to insulate the area from growth and development pressures experienced elsewhere in the greater Sun Valley area. The Bar B Ranch represents a rare opportunity to buy a substantial property in this tightly held section of Blaine County and combines seclusion with proximity to all the amenities and services of a premier resort community.

Recreational Considerations

It is often said that the Sun Valley area offers Idaho’s best combination of trout fishing, big game hunting and wing shooting, and the Bar B Ranch lies in the heart of it all. From classic spring creek fishing on world renown Silver Creek 20 minutes southwest of the property to the excellent freestone fisheries of the Little Wood, Big Wood and Big Lost Rivers to stillwater fishing on the Little Wood and Fish Creek reservoirs, an owner of the Bar B Ranch is only minutes away from an outstanding fishing experience.

The Little Wood River is a classic freestone stream that supports a healthy population of rainbow and brook trout up to 15 inches. The Bar B Ranch is situated below the Little Wood Reservoir, an impoundment constructed in the 1930’s to store irrigation water for local farmers and ranchers. Although technically a “tailwater” fishery, this portion of the Little Wood is similar to the river upstream of the reservoir and fishes more like a mid-sized mountain stream. The Little Wood is perfect for light rods and dry flies.

Lying just 15 miles west of the ranch, Silver Creek is among the crown jewels of western fly fishing. Beginning with the stretch of water through The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve, there are miles of spring creek habitat and outstanding fishing downstream to Silver Creek’s confluence with the Little Wood River below Carey. Fabled insect hatches, eager but selective surface-feeding rainbow and brown trout, and an unlikely high desert setting combine to make this historic spring creek a remarkable place to “wet a line.” Additional high quality fishing resources within an hour of the Bar B Ranch include the Little Wood above the reservoir as well as below its confluence with Silver Creek, the Big Wood River west of Carey, and the Big Lost River near Mackay, Idaho.

The area is also rich with upland birds and waterfowl. Chukar partridge are plentiful on the hillsides, ridgelines, and rock outcroppings on the ranch and across the surrounding foothills and mountains. Sage grouse and blue grouse are found on the ranch’s highlands near springs, aspen stands, and riparian areas. Ducks and geese utilize the Little Wood River on a seasonal basis or until colder temperatures push birds south. More serious waterfowl hunters can find quality shooting at Carey Lake Wildlife Management area, 15 minutes southeast of the ranch, and at Silver Creek Preserve.

The region also boasts strong populations of big game. The surrounding mountains, foothills, and high desert areas teem with elk, mule deer and pronghorn. Moose, black bear, and mountain lion also reside locally. Each of these species is drawn to the Bar B Ranch by the desirable combination of water, forage and cover. Because the property consists of at least 640 acres, the owner of the Bar B Ranch is eligible for a landowner appreciation permit from the Idaho Fish and Game Department to hunt elk, deer or antelope on the ranch or other areas within hunt unit 49.

In addition to hunting and fishing, the Sun Valley area offers a variety of world-class, year-round outdoor recreation activities a short distance away from the ranch. Winter activities include downhill skiing on famous Bald Mountain and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling on the area’s extensive winter trail network. During the summer and fall, the area’s diverse topography offers unparalleled hiking, backpacking and mountain-bike riding. Blaine County is also blessed with tens of thousands of acres of BLM and national forest lands, which provide unlimited opportunities for one to experience the best of Idaho’s backcountry.
Water Rights

Taxes

The 2006 property taxes are estimated at approximately $696.